Chris Smalling has admitted United might have to win almost all of their remaining games if they’re to clinch a Champions League spot ahead of next season, but the United defender admitted that bridging the seven-point gap that currently separates United from Liverpool won’t be easy.
Saturday’s shambolic defeat at Stoke highlighted yet again United’s numerous deficiencies, while David Moyes’ obstinate choice of deploying a 4-4-2 formation backfired, as the Reds’ approach was as pedestrian as that of a Sunday league team, with almost no shots on target in the whole of the second half.
United, seventh on the table with 40 points, are seven points adrift of fourth place with 14 games remaining and sharp turnaround in form if they’re to avoid missing out on the Champions League for the first time in 19 years, particularly as, on average, the fourth-placed team over the last 10 seasons has accumulated over 68 points.
That means United would have to win 10 of their remaining 14 games, an arduous task at the best of times, let alone considering the dismal form David Moyes’ men have shown this season and Smalling insisted United should treat the remaining games as 14 finals.
“We’ve got to go into it as if we need to win every game,” said the United defender.
“We’re the ones who have to catch the others so we’ve got to win the points and put the pressure on them.
“We’ve not done ourselves any favours with losses like this. We’re not in those positions at the moment and that’s a worry, but there is plenty of football left.
“There’s a lot to go, but time is running out and we need to make sure we put things right come the next game.
“Each point that we drop makes it difficult for ourselves. Other teams will drop points as well, but we need to stop dropping points. We need to put pressure on other teams.”
Failure to qualify for the Champions League could see United entering the Europa League – if they manage to finish higher than seventh, that is – which would mean they’d have to start their season in July to negotiate the Europa League’s preliminary rounds, but Smalling admits the players know how important a top-four finish is.
“We don’t really talk about it, but we all know that’s the minimum we need to aim for,” he said. It is only we players who can get us out of this muddle that we’re in.”
Yet again, the United camp is making all the right rumours. Any chance to see some results, lads?
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